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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: A Statement That Leads to Misunderstanding
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Ha Yul knew about the contract marriage too.
At first, Yi Yeon hadn’t planned to tell her, but as always, she ended up in the palm of Ha Yul’s hand.
Ha Yul didn’t believe for a second that Yi Yeon was suddenly getting married.
“What? You’ve never even mentioned having a boyfriend, and you’re always just at home after work, and now you’re getting married? I know everything from why you started disguising yourself to why you didn’t want to get married! You’re going to lie to me now? You think I’d believe this ridiculous marriage?”
With no other choice, she spilled everything, and Ha Yul flew into a rage.
But when she heard the partner was Do Hyun, she fell deep into thought before immediately shouting, “I absolutely approve of this marriage!”
Yi Yeon had no idea why she’d suddenly flipped to approval… but in any case, Ha Yul cheerfully agreed to be a witness for their marriage registration.
“Do we really need to get familiar? We’re going to divorce soon anyway. We’re the type to quietly enjoy our freedom and then part ways.”
Yi Yeon clinked her glass against the one Ha Yul offered and downed her drink.
“You never know, maybe you won’t divorce. You always say you can’t predict people’s lives. You two might end up falling for each other. Don’t be so quick to judge.”
“Im Ha Yul! Don’t you know we’re from completely different worlds? We’ve never even eaten together at home—where would we find time to hit it off? The contract condition is no funny business, and we’re sticking to it perfectly.”
Ha Yul paused mid-bite of her chicken feet, staring at Yi Yeon with wide, startled rabbit eyes.
“You don’t even eat together? Do you two talk at home?”
“How could we talk? We don’t even know when the other comes home or leaves. If I hear the front door sometimes, I figure they’re out. We agreed not to interfere with each other’s private lives.”
“Hey, at this rate, he could bring another woman home and you wouldn’t even know.”
“That’s going too far. The Vice President isn’t the type to bring another woman home.”
“Yi Yeon, you two will get caught by the family in an instant like this! Your mom was so worried you’d spend your life disguised and never marry, growing old alone. That’s why she obsessed over setting you up on blind dates and trying to pair you with good prospects. And she loved your husband so much for adoring you just as you are. Imagine how shocked she’d be if she found out the truth!”
Yi Yeon sat quietly, listening as Ha Yul—who always grew brutally direct after a few drinks—laid into her with one bone-chilling remark after another. The restaurant buzzed with singing and chatter, but Ha Yul’s voice cut through clearly, pricking at Yi Yeon’s guilt.
She was right. This was something the family could absolutely never know.
“No matter what, they can’t find out. My mom would clutch her neck.”
“You think she’d stop at clutching her neck? They say your father-in-law treats you so kindly too—is it common for a father-in-law to be that affectionate to his daughter-in-law? He dotes on you so much; imagine how hurt he’d be if he learned it’s a fake marriage!”
Hurt….
“No, we can’t hurt them, absolutely not!”
Yi Yeon’s alcohol-loosened eyes widened as she spoke.
She couldn’t tolerate Deok Ho getting hurt again because of her and Do Hyun.
For everyone’s sake, this marriage needed to end cleanly two years from now, with a suitable excuse to convince the elders.
“To do that, you need to be more thorough. You two aren’t just distant—you’re ridiculously distant… At least eat together once or twice a week! You should know each other’s hobbies, allergies, favorite foods, movies—that’s basic, right? If you live so separately and suddenly pretend to be a couple, won’t it feel awkward and weird?”
As Do Hyun’s secretary, Yi Yeon knew his general tastes, but they’d never shared anything truly personal.
“Yeah, it’d be extremely awkward and uncomfortable.”
“Exactly. At least get a basic grasp on your husband. Start getting closer today.”
“How?”
Ha Yul’s eyes sparkled at Yi Yeon’s hesitant question.
* * *
In front of a café in an Apgujeong alley, Do Hyun parked the luxury foreign car he’d arrived in right by the entrance.
Running late due to an extended meeting, Do Hyun smoothed back his disheveled hair and stepped out.
He lightly ignored the stares from passersby and focused on scanning the café.
Soon, he spotted a man at one table and smirked as he approached.
“President Kim Jae Ha, not working?”
The man, seeing Do Hyun, unfolded his arms and stood. Tall like Do Hyun, with permed hair and a cute smile, he bowed toward Do Hyun.
“The Vice President has arrived.”
Jae Ha was the one friend Do Hyun truly trusted.
Jae Ha looked up, his face brimming with mischief. Do Hyun grinned and playfully swatted his arm.
“Let’s go. I’m hungry.”
After giving some instructions to his staff, Jae Ha left the café with Do Hyun.
The two headed to Jae Ha’s nearby place.
“They’re famous here for stir-fried chicken gizzard and kung pao chicken.”
As soon as they arrived, Jae Ha unpacked the takeout bags he’d picked up on the way and set the table for dinner.
“I saw Woosung Card hit second place in the online preference survey this time!”
Just a few years ago, Woosung Card hadn’t been a popular brand with consumers. It had languished in fifth or sixth place without much buzz until Do Hyun joined—and shot straight to second.
Do Hyun’s first day had revealed a dire scene: rookies dying under rotten old-timers. He’d first solidified his own position, pruned the dead wood, and pushed for a comeback with fresh promotions.
Targeting the 20s and 30s with focused marketing, the new card launch had been a hit, leading to their current success.
“I came here for that, so it’s only natural.”
“How’s your wife doing?”
As Gap Su’s marriage obsession worsened daily, Do Hyun had vented his stress over the pointless time-wasting to Jae Ha.
That’s when Jae Ha had first suggested a contract marriage—as a joke, but it had been good advice for Do Hyun.
He hadn’t formally introduced Yi Yeon to Jae Ha yet. They’d only crossed paths a few times when she’d visited the company. Still, since Do Hyun’s marriage, Jae Ha always asked about her well-being.
“She’s doing well.”
“From a different floor?”
Jae Ha burst into laughter the moment he finished speaking.
He hadn’t drunk much, so what had gotten him so tipsy?
“Ah, my eyes are tearing up. To think there’s a woman out there who doesn’t even glance at An Do Hyun. You must’ve dived from the door to the bed hundreds of times during that period, and she never once crossed the line.”
Jae Ha pretended to wipe away tears that weren’t there. Do Hyun shook his head as Jae Ha laughed even harder at his plea to stop.
“That’s exactly why I proposed to her.”
Even now, Yi Yeon was the perfect partner for Do Hyun. She’d agreed to all his conditions without hesitation—even the marriage registration.
After marrying, he’d worried she might change her mind and get clingy, but it was needless. She was upholding the contract perfectly.
“So, when’s the housewarming?”
“Enough with the housewarming talk. I told you it’s not a real marriage.”
“Does your wife cook well?”
“Dunno, never tried it.”
“Haha, she must really not like you—hasn’t even made you a meal once?”
Jae Ha cracked up again, loud enough for round two.
“We’ve never eaten a private meal together.”
“What? Not even at a restaurant? Wow, I guess I was the fool for hoping.”
“What were you hoping for, man?”
Jae Ha dodged Do Hyun’s question, then raised his voice, veins bulging in his neck.
“With your indifference showing so obviously, how long do you think you can fool Grandpa? I feel bad for your wife struggling alone.”
Had he gone too far?
No matter how loveless the marriage, had he been too focused on drawing lines with Yi Yeon?
Thinking back, he’d never been warm to her despite her being the perfect partner, never even expressed gratitude.
There was no way Yi Yeon liked him.
Do Hyun felt a surge of guilt toward her, realizing he’d actually tried to act even more indifferent.
Jae Ha was right. Gap Su, sharp as he was, had fallen for their act only because Yi Yeon played her part well. Even Do Hyun thought they’d get found out tomorrow.
“Didn’t you tell me to breathe separately at home in this contract marriage? Why the sudden talk of meals?”
“I didn’t know you two were literally just breathing in the same house! Get closer already.”
Jae Ha’s nagging continued for a while after that.
* * *
Returning home, Yi Yeon saw the pitch-black house and assumed Do Hyun wasn’t back yet as she turned on the living room light.
“Eek.”
But the moment the light flicked on, she screamed in shock at the dark silhouette on the living room sofa.
“Vice President! You’re home?”
“Haha,” Yi Yeon laughed awkwardly.
Truth be told, she wanted to ask, ‘Why are you here?’ but swallowed it, figuring it wasn’t her place as a guest in his house.
“You’re just getting back now?”
Seeing Do Hyun immediately brought Ha Yul’s advice to mind.
“If it’s hard, just say let’s get to know each other over a meal—what’s the big deal?”
Ha Yul had said it was no big thing, not a date, just sharing a meal….
“You must’ve been out somewhere too, Vice President.”
The problem was Yi Yeon wasn’t drunk yet.
She didn’t have enough buzz for liquid courage.
She worried he might misinterpret it as her being interested in him.
She feared it could sour their relationship or make the marriage awkwardly end.
“Yeah, you too, Secretary Yu? Where’ve you been?”
“Yes, a friend dragged me out for chicken feet and soju.”
It had been ages since they’d had such a long conversation at home. The familiar house felt strangely different.
Her mouth went dry from the awkwardness, her heart pounding with tension.
But why was he sitting in the living room? Could he… be waiting for me?
“Were you waiting for me by any chance? Something to say?”
“Nope.”
Did he have to be so blunt?
Yi Yeon was at a loss for words at the immediate reply.
“Then I’ll head up.”
She turned calmly, but with each step up the stairs, her thoughts tangled wildly.
Was it really that hard?
We need to know the basics about each other. He won’t demand a divorce over a few more words.
“V-Vice President!”
Unlike Yi Yeon’s urgent voice, Do Hyun turned slowly.
“Don’t misunderstand. Should we get to know each other a bit?”
Do Hyun carefully read Yi Yeon’s serious expression and the steady pupils behind her glasses.
Breaking the brief silence, he took slow steps toward her on the stairs.
“I don’t want to misunderstand either, but it’s a statement that leads to misunderstanding.”
“That’s why I said not to misunderstand beforehand! Focus on getting to know each other, not on us specifically!”
Do Hyun’s approaching gaze looked sharp. She couldn’t read his thoughts at all.
Was he about to call it nonsense?
Her three years assisting at his side told her he needed a logical explanation.
If the conversation veered off, she’d feel deeply wronged.
That thought cleared her mind, sobering her up.
“See, we’re contract partners, but we know nothing about each other. As your secretary, I know your tastes professionally, but nothing personal.”
She couldn’t stop the words pouring out like a fountain. Yi Yeon pushed up her slipping glasses with a fingertip and launched into her next tirade.
“Grandpa invites us to dinner two or three times a month, and I worry about slipping up.”
Worried about getting caught in this absurd marriage situation and hurting him needlessly…
“Say Grandpa asks me if you eat well, what’s your favorite food? And I say, ‘The Vice President loves flower crab soup.’ But what if you’re allergic to crab roe! That’d be a disaster!”
“Fortunately, I have no allergies.”
Do Hyun, who’d been silently listening to her chatter, finally spoke.
Allergies? Now? That wasn’t the point!
“That’s really fortunate info. I have no allergies either. See? We just shared one piece. ‘Know your enemy and know yourself, and you’ll win a hundred battles’—not that you’re the enemy, of course. I think exchanging appropriate info is necessary for business. What do you think, Vice President?”
Yi Yeon, standing four steps up, looked down at Do Hyun before her. He gazed steadily back, unmoving.
The two stood frozen like statues for a long moment, as if vowing never to cross that line.
Finally, as she awaited his answer, Do Hyun’s lips parted.
“Fine.”
Yi Yeon was surprised by his immediate okay—unlike what she’d expected—but kept a straight face.
But Do Hyun wasn’t done.
“So, how about dinner together tomorrow night?”
